Many individuals may be familiar with the typical pop-up warning urging users to confirm that they are at least 18 years old before visiting a porn website. However, in Louisiana, anyone who wants to access pornographic websites must first present valid identification as an adult. Act 440, the law’s formal name, became operative on January 1st, 2023. Its main focus is safeguarding kids against “commercial companies that distribute content detrimental to minors” (pornography). Louisiana compels websites containing a “significant quantity” of pornographic content—more than 33.1%—to verify users’ ages in order to guarantee that such web content is exclusively accessed by adults.

Hello from the surveillance state of Louisiana. People in Louisiana have to use their drivers license to go to pornhub. This is truly wild. Under his eye. https://t.co/uji6Jo3Tde pic.twitter.com/pVKEeVcCGw

— Public Defendering (@fodderyfodder) January 2, 2023

A screen recording that made its way to Twitter shows an example of what Louisiana-based users can expect to see. The video shows the individual being promoted to create an account on Allpasstrust to access PornHub, which would provide personal information for age-verification purposes through LA Wallet. While the legislation was dubbed a “privacy time bomb” by PCMag, we should note that websites are prohibited from keeping users’ identifying information. “A commercial entity shall be liable to the individual for damages resulting from the retention of the identifying information, including court costs and reasonable attorney fees as ordered by the court,” if it is discovered that the commercial entity intentionally retained the individual’s identifying information after the individual had access to it.

However, the situation is problematic to say the least because several people thought the action was eerily reminiscent of 1984. Others argued that Louisiana had more pressing problems to address than porn, while others pointed out how the proposal will most negatively affect underprivileged populations. Read some of the views below. – Steve Sijenyi

How is this smaller, less intrusive government.

— David Anderson (@daavetv) January 5, 2023

I spoke to @asilbwrites for @TechCrunch about louisiana’s new act 440, which requires that porn consumers submit government ID to access adult content.

tl;dr “trans women sex workers, as usual, will be the most affected.” https://t.co/0OlbZdErwo

— 🌬Doctrix Snow (she/her) (@MistressSnowPhD) January 3, 2023

Of all the WRONG things going on in Louisiana right now like education funding, rising cost of living, crime rate and the law makers are worried about PORN???? https://t.co/2rmtXJ8Kbk

— Chelsea, duh. (@charmdiddy) January 2, 2023

@GregAbbott_TX Governor Abbott, I would like Texas to do something similar. Louisiana Act 440 was authored by Rep. Laurie Schlegel (R-Metairie), who says the law is needed to protect juveniles. “Someone can sue on behalf of their child.”

— Patty Williams (@PEW_Patty) January 5, 2023

There is no reason to oppose the Louisiana porn law unless you’re an underage guy mad that you can’t watch porn anymore

— scott (@Scott93366297) January 5, 2023

I hate government authority and restrictions, BUT the new Louisiana law about proving you are above 18 before having access to porn is fucking awesome

— Jesus (@joegidensdick) January 5, 2023

changed my ip address to italy pic.twitter.com/ktYe5pOqIH

— wockstar (@babybottlewock) January 5, 2023